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Archive for the 'QC After Dark' Category

Live…from New York

Friday, October 24th, 2008

I am in a New York state of mind…Perhaps because I am sitting on a Jet Blue flight relishing in the fact I didn’t have to pay to check my luggage and enjoying my free soda and snacks.


I was up in NYC for an interview on MAXIM Radio on Sirius Satellite for the Stretch show. (more…)

Making TRACES at Spirit Square

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008


A different kind of circus has come to town… As in TRACES, which is now showing at Blumenthal’s McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square. Think Cirque du Soleil meets Stomp meets Rent.

I actually went to see TRACES with a girl who’s been to Cirque du Soleil in Vegas and claims that TRACES was in fact better due to the real life applications of the performances. The cast consists of some of the most athletic and acrobatic actors in theater. At one point, I wondered if the actors even had bones. I thought I was flexible because I can do the splits, but these actors were tumbling, twisting, leaping, climbing, spinning and extending their bodies in ways I didn’t know a human body could move. And they did so using basketballs, skateboards, pianos, chairs, rings… and a catapult. (more…)

Another EpiCentre opening…

Friday, October 17th, 2008


Tonight is the Grand Opening of PJ’s Coffee & Lounge.

To me PJ’s is the acronym for pajamas, but to Charlotte it’s the newest edition to the EpiCentre following the recent opening of Fleming’s Steakhouse.

(Speaking of Fleming’s – PJ’s is a little hard to find within the epic EpiCentre, so in order to help navigate your nightlife, I’ll go ahead an specify that it’s behind Fleming’s on the first floor).

PJ’s Coffee & Lounge is a place to go to wake up, chill out, and wine down – at least according to them. For someone can appreciate a coffee shop as much as a lounge, I went to check out this curious combination last night.

But the bar wasn’t so much combined as it was divided – half a coffee bar equip with a glass case of muffins and scones, and then the other half a wine stocked bar. Imagine if Starbucks and Press, Dolce Vita and Smelly Cat in NoDa, or even the two Dean& Deluca in Phillip’s Place were to have a merger….kinda like that. (more…)

Another scrapbook of shenanigans

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008


Gold Medal wearing Olympic swimmer Aaron Peirsol taking in his first NASCAR race….for which he ordered the starting of gentlemen’s engines for the Bank of America 500


Some boobalicious mermaids at the Bud Light Party Cruise event at the EpiCentre’s Pavilion. The question of the evening: “How do you get a girl in body paint naked?” According to some dude - baby oil does the trick. (more…)

Lake Norman Sports Grille ‘hard’ opening

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

If you read my previous column “Finding new life up on the lake,” then you know I’ve been making a lot of trips up and down I-77. Well, I just keep finding reasons to go up there…. for the nightlife.

Cason-Point: Last Thursday’s soft (as opposed to hard) opening of Lake Norman’s new sports bar…. Lake Norman Sports Grille.

Formerly Solace, this spot nestled within the Shops on the Green is owned and operated by the same guys who bring us Rusty Rudder. They’ve transformed their upscale tapas bar into an upscale sports bar… and just in time for football season. If Rusty Rudder is the Disney World of local bars, then this place is Disney Land for sports fans.

(more…)

Tales from Uptown’s new Breast-eraunt

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Despite the controversy and pissed off conservative Charlotteans, Hooters opened an Uptown location last month on Trade Street, between Church and Tryon.
And I finally got a chance to check out the infamous home of wings and things (and by things I mean boobs) following the Panthers’ game last Sunday.
There was a slight wait to get in considering it was game day and Hooters is hailed as a sports bar. So while we waited we checked out the Hooters Magazine and found some girls from Hickory and Gastonia representing.

We were seated under a sign that read: “Caution Blondes Thinking,” and given my overall dining experience there, I should’ve heeded the warning.

(more…)

Friday is now Wineday

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

Would you like some cheese with that wine?
How about some wine with your Friday instead — leaving you nothing to whine about.
ELEVATE Magazine’s Wineday Wednesdays have been moved to Fridays, giving SouthPark the happiest of happy hours to conclude the work week.
The Village at SouthPark (which is essentially the M5 and Cracker Barrel parking lot) transforms into a makeshift vineyard from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Fridays.


(more…)

Why is Oktoberfest in September?

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Can someone please explain to me why Oktoberfest is in September?

Is it because October can’t handle Oktoberfest and Halloween, so it had to spread out the holidays?
Whatever the reason, this weekend I was really excited about the fact that I was within walking distance to Memorial Stadium … not only did I not have any gas, but I dared not drive to 10th annual Charlotte Oktoberfest, which was kinda like a tour through Willy Wonka’s factory… or brewery should I say. And getting in was like finding a golden ticket because the event sold out faster than a New Kids on the Block concert when the boy band was in their prime. Speaking of which, they’re coming to the Time Cable Warner Arena Oct.30, and I kinda want to go for some reason.

Oktoberfest was set up like a convention … with beer. You get a shot-glass-sized beer glass to use for sampling the array of brews at the different brewery booths.

There were 30 breweries from the Carolinas alone, and then 40 breweries from other states, in addition to 39 International brewery booths (most of them from Belgium).
Do the math (cause I suck at it) … that’s a lot of breweries.

(more…)

O.A.R. rocks Charlotte

Friday, September 26th, 2008

O.A.R. — as in O – A – R, not oar — we’re talking about a band here, not a device for steering your boat! I made that mistake once and totally lost some cool points.


Well, the other night, O.A.R. jammed out at Cricket Arena.

Random fun fact: before the Astrodome was built, Cricket Arena was the largest domed coliseum in the country.

Anyway, it wasn’t a crazy game of poker, but it was a crazy night. (more…)

No, it ain’t a drag…

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN — that’s the sound you’ll hear at the drag race — at like, 10 million decibels. The volume is so high you can not only hear it, but feel it. The noise revving from the engine literally rattles your body when you’re standing, and vibrates your butt when seated on the bleachers. And it can be heard up to 20 miles away. It’s kinda like an extreme sport where everyone gets to feel a bit of the rush.

drag108.jpg
Last weekend, I bypassed the Panther’s game where De-Homme beat Da-Bears and went to the drag. (Our boys are looking good this year, are they not?) (more…)

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